By ALEXANDER HITCHEN
Kelly Ripa is secretly being courted to replace Katie Couric on the Today show, The National Enquirer can reveal. And sources say she may use the job to carry out the ultimate revenge on Regis Philbin!
Under the bombshell deal, sources disclose Kelly would get her own talk show as part of an extended Today show — meaning she’d go head-to-head against Regis on Live! Insiders disclose that the potential deal is the brainchild of NBC head honcho Jeff Zucker. Said a close source: “Jeff realizes that Katie has her mind made up to bolt to CBS when her contract expires in May and take the big job as the evening news anchor — the slot made famous by Dan Rather.
“She wants to be taken seriously as a newswoman and CBS is confident she’ll be the perfect fit. Despite all the money that’s been thrown at her to stay, she’s determined to exit.”
For more on Kelly, pick up this week’s issue of The National Enquirer.
